Blurton teenager Carly Morrell avoids jail after admitting robbery

TEENAGER Carly Morrell falsely told a man her friend had stolen her bag – and watched as he took it from her.

Morrell, of Waterside Drive, Blurton, who was 17 at the time of the offence, also tried to wrestle Leanne Lawton's phone from her hand following the incident.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the pair had met up at Miss Lawton's home on February 13.

They then went to a friend's home in Shelton where they continued to drink until 6.30am the following day.

Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting, said: "At about 6.30am the defendant phoned for a lift and Ifraz Hussain arrived in a Vauxhall Corsa with another gentleman.

"The two women went over to the car and got in, and went to Tesco to get some more drink. However they couldn't get any – either due to their age or the fact they had already been drinking heavily."

Mr Clarkson told the court that 'things then turned sexual' and Miss Lawton objected and left the car.

He said: "She was phoned later by the defendant who said that she had sorted it out and that she could return to the car. However things had clearly not been sorted."

The court then heard that Miss Lawton left the group for a second time and while walking away heard footsteps behind her and saw Mr Hussain.

"She felt her bag being wrenched and pulled and the strap fell off," said Mr Clarkson.

"She was pushed to the ground and suffered a graze to her knee.

"The defendant shouted to Leanne 'just give him the bag'."

The bag was valued at about £10 and contained roughly £27.

Morrell, who had no previous convictions, was also accused of unsuccessfully trying to snatch Miss Lawton's phone from her hand.

The victim then went into the Odeon cinema at Festival Park, from where the police were called.

Morrell, aged 18, who is expecting her second child, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Co-accused Mr Hussain denied the charge and was later cleared by a jury, who accepted he had been told the bag belonged to Morrell.

Judge David Fletcher, who handed Morrell a 12-month community order along with an 8pm until 7am curfew, said: "It was a nasty incident and it involved your friend. Not only had they been drinking, there was also substance abuse.

"You are 20 weeks' pregnant and taking those substances will have an affect on your unborn child.

Comments

"handed Morrell a 12-month community order along with an 8pm until 7am curfew"
"Don't think we don't send pregnant women to prison, because we do."
It seems that Mr Fletcher is not the kind of man to back up his words with actions.